Print Worthy

From the shores of Jamaica’s southern coast to the edges of Norway’s Lofoten Islands, the September Issue of SURFER Magazine showcases exotic and local perspectives on far-flung destinations. For an early look at the tales and photos inside it, here are five shots that made the cut:

Gary Conley’s transport with board in tow in front of a hidden gem along the isolated coast of Angola. Photo: Conley

Edges of Africa | About a year ago, Santa Cruz surfer Gary Conley decided to take the most ambitious surf trip of his life. Armed with little more than a motorcycle, camping supplies, and a 5'11" swallowtail, Conley set out to circumnavigate the African continent. From somewhere in Angola, he gives us a status report.

Dylan Graves tucks into a tropical blue Jamaican barrel. Photo: Ellis

Misfits of Bull Bay | Along Jamaica's impoverished southern coast, Billy "Mystic" Wilmot and his sons have built an unlikely surfing community and pioneered many of the island’s best waves. But for the next generation of Jamaican surfers, surfing is more than a pastime. It's the potential for a better life. Dylan and Josie Graves and Dane and Tanner Gudauskas head to the Caribbean island to experience firsthand Jamaica’s unique surf scene.

Valhalla's Coast | Almost 50 years ago, a Norwegian surfer named Thor shaped his first surfboard to ride the frigid waves of Unstad Bay in the Lofoten Islands. It didn’t go very well. Now armed with much warmer wetsuits, surfers have returned to Unstad and built an unlikely surf paradise on this inhospitable stretch of coast. Pat Millin, Brett Barley, and Chadd Konig head to Unstad Bay to find that arctic surfing is alive and well on its snowy shores.

Shark spotters are a surfer’s eye in the sky in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: Van Gysen

Sharkspotting | Just off the coast of Cape Town lies one of the largest great white shark populations in the world. Within the last decade, human encounters with sharks have become more frequent, often with tragic results. But a nonprofit equipped with little more than flags and binoculars has found a new way to keep surfers safe.

Yadin Nicol, feeling right at home in Western Australia. Photo: Lowe-White

Turning For Home | From the flawless barrels of North Point to the harrowing slab at The Box, Western Australia offers some of the best and most daunting waves in the world. After moving to California five years ago, West Oz native Yadin Nicol takes us on a journey back to his rugged home breaks.